Initially released in 2018, Netflix's The Dragon Prince has charmed audiences and become one of its highest-rated animated shows. The Dragon Prince is in esteemed company with the likes of Arcane and Castlevania. The Dragon Prince focuses on two young princes, Callum and Ezran, on their journey with an elf named Rayla. The half-brothers must escort the stolen egg of the Dragon Prince to its mother in Xadia.
Dragon Prince introduces several characters full of personality, each with their skills, quirks, and flaws. Initially seen as the loyal advisor and friend of King Harrow, Viren quickly moves into the role of antagonist. What starts as his attempt to protect mankind, heads much further beyond moral ambiguity into pure evil.
10 He Failed His King & Deprived Him Of One Last Talk With Callum
Viren was once regarded as an equal by King Harrow. Over time, Viren's obsession with dark magic begins to lose his King's trust. He is willing to sacrifice his own life for Harrow as the assassins draw closer, but Harrow doesn't want to hear him out.
This anger and humiliation lead Viren to lash out at Callum, just as he is about to tell his step-father about the survival of the Dragon Prince. Viren proceeds to cast a spell that renders Callum speechless, unable to call out for Harrow. This deprives them of one final goodbye before the arrival of the Moonshadow elven assassins.
9 He Accepted The Help Of Aaravos
Viren is initially left confused and frustrated by the mysterious magic mirror that he took from the Dragon King's lair. Viren gradually gets to know the being on the other side of the mirror. Introduced in stages, the elf Aaravos first binds them together. Aaravos then teleports a bizarre caterpillar-like creature that enables Viren to hear him speak. Later, he can see a ghost-like figure of the elf.
With Aaravos's true intentions still unknown, there is a sense that he is merely using Viren as a tool for his means rather than the other way around. Viren's quest to find the Dragon Prince is blinding him from seeing this truth.
8 Aaravos & Viren Sent Assassins To The Other Kingdoms To Set War Plans In Motion
In the second season, or book, Viren and Aaravos's new partnership is gaining traction. The mysterious elf urges Viren to cast a spell that creates spectral versions of elven assassins. He then sends the elven assassins to attack the leaders of other human kingdoms. He did so because his previous proposals of war were rejected at the Pentarchy summit.
It is revealed that two of the leaders are killed by the assassins, with another gravely injured. With the spectral figures being in elven form, the elves are framed for the violence. This gives Ahling's son, Kasef, the incentive to join Viren's forces, demanding war and justice.
7 Viren Burdened His Son With The Confusing Quest Of Killing The Princes
Viren's treatment of his children declines from wanting to leave them a legacy, to manipulating them into doing his dirty work. Claudia continues to feel a sense of loyalty to her father. Her brother, Soren, shows the most character growth. Soren goes from a dim-witted soldier who always follows his father's orders, to showing his kind-hearted nature and standing up for what he believes in.
Viren never shows his son any love. Viren orders Soren to capture and kill the princes. Ultimately, this order makes Soren question his loyalties. Viren even gets Claudia to cast an illusion of himself trying to kill Ezran. Soren is forced to fight his inner turmoil and stab his father. It causes severe conflicting grief for Soren.
6 Viren Managed To Manipulate Claudia & Keep Her On His Side
Viren's treatment of Soren is cruel. However, he handles his relationship with Claudia cleverly. He manipulates Claudia to keep her and her powerful uses of dark magic on his side. With Aaravos in his ear saying Claudia will be useful later on, Viren starts to validate her more. This isn't necessarily out of fatherly love.
Soren confronts Viren about ordering him to kill the princes in front of Claudia. Viren uses the situation to turn Claudia against her brother and doubt his every word. Claudia goes through a visible change throughout The Dragon Prince. Her hair becomes whiter with every considerable use of dark magic, but this won't stop Viren from using her talents.
5 Viren & Aaravos Stole The Power Of The Sun Forge From Lux Aurea
On the way to Xadia, Aaravos and Viren take a trip to see the Sunfire elves at Lux Aurea. They are able to infiltrate it while stealing the power from their Sun Forge. This kills Queen Khessa. Seizing this extraordinary power allows Viren to transform his army of humans into an army of rampaging beasts.
This is the final straw for Soren. Soren leaves immediately after, having seen his father's truly villainous form. Claudia stays to be with her father and the source of power for extraordinary magic.
4 He Stole The Dragon Egg & Escalated Conflict
In the flashbacks of Harrow and Viren's past fights with the Dragon King, it is Viren's use of dark magic that enables Harrow to kill the Dragon King. Viren then convinces Harrow to let him destroy the egg of the Dragon Prince to avoid future wars.
Rayla's parents are shown to convince Viren with their final act, to take the egg rather than destroy it. Viren does this in secret. This sparks conflict between the dragons, elves, and humans. They all believe that the egg and the Dragon King are gone. Whether it was a brief moment of compassion, or his selfish thirst for power that made him keep the egg alive, Viren started a war. Inadvertently, he left an unknown hope for the Dragon Prince's return.
3 Viren Traps & Keeps Moonshadow Elves In Coins
Viren takes particular pleasure in capturing and trapping elves inside of coins. He is shown sealing the fate of Rayla's fellow assassin teammate Runaan in this way. A later flashback shows this as the fate of Rayla's parents, revealing that they didn't run away from their duties.
It helps to add a more sadistic side to the character to oppose the parts that help humanize him, while being mysterious enough to intrigue viewers. Audiences can't help but wonder if there is more meaning behind the coins and collection of elves.
2 Viren Showed No Remorse When Replacing Ezran
Ezran decided to abandon their valiant quest to deliver Zym to his mother in Xadia. He chose to go back home and serve as King. He arrives home in Katolis to assume his role as the rightful King. When he finds Viren imprisoned, Ezran struggles with his duties as King.
People begin to turn on Ezran and his wishes for peace. Ezran strikes a deal: he'll replace Viren in the dungeons in return for sparing the lives of those not wishing to fight in future wars. Viren's lack of compassion is unsettling, and an ominous start to his plans of marching to Xadia for war.
1 Viren's Dogged Pursuit Of Zym Was Terrifying
As the titular Dragon Prince, Zym becomes a popular character upon hatching from his egg. Zym is an adorable baby dragon. He's a beacon of hope for the reparations of relationships between dragons, elves, and humans. Zym's safety and survival is the most important part of Dragon Prince, which makes for some tense moments when that safety is threatened.
As The Final Battle nears its end, Viren makes his way to the top of Storm Spire Mountain to find the Dragon Prince. After subduing Rayla and Bait, he attempts to siphon Zym's power for himself. The Dragon Prince writhes in pain, which makes for difficult viewing. It takes a brave Rayla, tackling him off the top of the mountain, to stop his harvesting of the dragon's power.